That’s approximately how much the Bobcaygeon resident invested in a new chip truck operation. And, while he says he did everything right, in the end, he’s throwing in the towel.

“It’s ridiculous, it’s just wrong,” he says. “I’m just going to put it up for sale and walk away.”

Mr. Latto has lived in Bobcaygeon for 45 years, and it was trying to open a chip truck that turned into a nightmare.

At the May 13 council meeting, staff brought forward a recommendation to amend the current bylaw to permit more than one chip truck in Bobcaygeon. At the time, Ward 7 Coun. Brian Junkin and Ward 13 Coun. Pat Warren said restaurants in the village were struggling, and their owners pay taxes. Both felt it was unfair to allow another chip truck that could potentially cut into the restaurants’ business.

Council voted against staff’s recommendation and the bylaw remained unchanged.

After that meeting, This Week spoke with Mr. Latto, who said he had followed all the City’s requirements to get a licence.

“I didn’t go to that meeting because staff told me I had done everything right and they didn’t see the need for me to go,” he said. “The staff told me they didn’t think there would be a problem; the impression I got was that everything would be OK.”

He said staff were “shocked” the recommendation to amend the bylaw did not pass.

The Fergie’s Fries chip truck is on Highway 36 outside the village, roughly 3.5 km from the Main Street location (near the former Caygeon Lanes) where Mr. Latto planned to put his truck.

Fergie’s Fries was for sale last fall, Mr. Latto said. “I looked into buying it, but the location was grandfathered from the old Bobcaygeon council. If I bought it, I would have had to move it, because it wouldn’t be allowed to stay at that location. Plus, it was an old truck; so I decided against buying it.”

After council turned down the recommendation on May 13, Mr. Latto, admittedly defiant, opened his truck without a licence. Bylaw officers ticketed him twice at $100 each.

He appeared on Tuesday (May 27) to plead his case and ask for an amendment to the bylaw.

“I don’t believe anyone should have a monopoly on any business,” he told council. Mr. Latto added he had followed all the City’s requirements, and his truck was not located close to the Fergie’s Fries truck. He admitted he opened illegally, but said he had a petition signed by 68 people supporting his venture. He also said he had spoken with three restaurant owners who “had no problem” with his truck.

Coun. Junkin challenged him, asking why he opened his truck knowing the bylaw had not been changed and if it would not have been more prudent for Mr. Latto to wait until he could appeal the decision.

Mr. Latto admitted he had opened illegally, and said he would not break the law. But, he expressed his frustration.

“I don’t know how you can have a lock on a business that only one chip truck is allowed in Bobcaygeon,” he said. “I did everything that was required. This is just wrong.”

Coun. Junkin asked, “So, we should change the bylaw just for you?”

Coun. Warren supported him, saying the reason the bylaw was created was to protect the restaurants. But, Mr. Latto argued his truck is outside town, far enough away from the downtown core that he wouldn’t be interfering with the restaurants.

Coun. Junkin said the bylaw was created because the restaurants “don’t want chip trucks.” He said if the Bobcaygeon Chamber of Commerce wanted the bylaw amended, council would consider the request.

Councillors Ron Ashmore (Ward 14) and Emmett Yeo (Ward 2) stood up for Mr. Latto. Coun. Yeo said bylaws “are amended all the time” and Coboconk has two chip trucks without problems.

Coun. Ashmore lashed out, calling the policy “business apartheid.”

“Are you open for business or not? I can’t believe we have a bylaw like this,” he said.